Multi-scale failure of heterogeneous materials: A double kinematics enhancement for Embedded Finite Element Method

International audienceThis paper presents a Finite Element model for the modeling of the failure of heterogeneous material at the meso-scale. This model is cast into the framework of the Enhanced Finite Element Method (E-FEM). Two kinds of enhancement are performed: (1) in the displace-ment field (strong discontinuity approach) in order to take into account micro-cracks, (2) in the strain field (weak discontinuity) in order to take into account heterogeneities without any mesh adaptation. Mechanical applications (uniaxial tension and compression loading, non-proportional loading) are performed in the context of cementitious materials such as concrete. We show the capability of the model to represent some of the main features of such materials observed at macro-scale

Methodology and numerical strategy for forecasting the leakage rate evolution of nuclear reactor buildings inner containments

The containment building represents the third and last protection barrier of nuclear reactors buildings (NRB). Yet ageing mechanisms of prestressed concrete could strongly affect the tightness capacity of the inner containment of a double-wall reactor building over time. That is a major issue considering the long-term operation and the potential life extension of NRBs while ensuring safety and regulatory requirements. Considering the size of those structures and the complexity of all interacting phenomena (such as drying, creep, shrinkage and cracking), it is very difficult from a computational perspective to build an industrial and operational tool modeling efficiently all the strong couplings occurring at different scales. In that context, a simple yet physically representative chained weakly-coupled strategy based on a macro-element discretization is implemented and applied to the VeRCoRs mock-up (scale 1:3). The proposed methodology adapts to feedback and data collected with time. It enables operators to take into account variabilities and uncertainties of main parameters in order to quantify their impact on the total leakage rate, to manually introduce defects coming from visual inspections and to preempt and optimize leak mitigation actions in order to avoid outage extensions and associated losses of income

Calcul de perméabilité en milieu fissuré : approche méso-macro

International audienceIn this paper, a sequential multi-scale framework to solve mass (air or water) transfer problems is described. Numerical results are checked against mechanical and permeation experimental datas from a reinforced concrete specimen under tensile load designed by C. Desmettre and J.P. CharronCe papier présente une approche multi-échelle séquentielle permettant de résoudre des problèmes de transfert de masse (air ou eau). Les résultats numériques sont confrontés à des données expérimentales obtenues par C. Desmettre et J.P. Charron [DES 11]. Ces derniers ont mesuré le débit traversant un tirant en béton armé sous différents paliers de chargement

Experimental investigation of the variability of concrete durability properties

One of the main objectives of the APPLET project was to quantify the variability of concrete properties to allow for a probabilistic performance-based approach regarding the service lifetime prediction of concrete structures. The characterization of concrete variability was the subject of an experimental program which included a significant number of tests allowing the characterization of durability indicators or performance tests. Two construction sites were selected from which concrete specimens were periodically taken and tested by the different project partners. The obtained results (mechanical behavior, chloride migration, accelerated carbonation, gas permeability, desorption isotherms, porosity) are discussed and a statistical analysis was performed to characterize these results through appropriate probability density functions

Modélisation numérique des matériaux hétérogènes : Applications aux matériaux à matrice cimentaire

Ce document constitue la synthèse des travaux de recherches effectués pendant les six années suivant mon doctorat --- de 2004 à 2009 --- et de quelques thématiques ayant pris naissance pendant la première moitié de l'année 2010. Ces travaux ont été principalement effectués au sein du secteur Génie Civil et Environnement du LMT--Cachan et impliquent de nombreux doctorants, stagiaires et partenaires industriels, ainsi que d'autres enseignants--chercheurs du laboratoire. Afin de mettre en avant la démarche générale qui sous-tend ce travail et la cohérence des différents développements menés au cours de ces années, j'ai choisi de les mettre en forme au travers d'un manuscrit original. Celui-ci permet également de présenter au lecteur des notations uniformisées et d'avoir ainsi une vision plus synthétique

Modélisation EF et morphologique de milieux hétérogènes à l'échelle mésoscopique (applications aux matériaux à matrice cimentaire)

Le travail effectué tend à représenter le comportement quasi-fragile des matériaux hétérogènes (matériaux à matrice cimentaire). Le principe suivi s'inscrit dans le cadre des approches multi-échelles séquencées où la description des matériaux est faite à une échelle fine (mésoscopique) et l'information est transférée à une échelle plus grande (macroscopique). Les résultats montrent que la prise en compte explicite des hétérogénéités offre des perspectives intéressantes vis-à-vis de l'identification, la compréhension ainsi que la modélisation des comportements macroscopiques. En pratique : à partir d'une description simple de chaque phase ainsi que du comportement des interfaces, un effet structurel est observé, menant à des comportements macroscopiques compliqués. Le travail est donc axé autour de deux problématiques principales. D un coté, la représentation morphologique des hétérogénéités est produite en utilisant la théorie des excursions de champs aléatoires corrélés, produisant des inclusions de forme aléatoires dont les caractéristiques géométriques et topologiques sont analytiquement contrôlées. D un autre coté, dans un cadre Elément Fini, un double enrichissement cinématique permet de prendre en compte les hétérogénéités ainsi que le phénomène de dégradation local (microfissuration). En couplant ces deux aspects, le méso-modèle montre des réponses macroscopiques émergentes possédant d'intéressantes propriétés typiques des matériaux à matrice cimentaires telles que : asymétrie de la réponse en traction et en compression, profils de fissurations réalistes ou encore dépendance du comportement vis-à-vis de l historique du chargement.The present thesis is part of an approach that attempts to represent the quasi-brittle behavior of heterogeneous materials such as cementitious ones. The guideline followed fits in a sequenced multi-scale framework for which descriptions of the material are selected at a thin scale (mesoscopic or microscopic) and information is transferred to a larger scale (macroscopic). It shows how the explicit representation of heterogeneities offers interesting prospects on identification, understanding and modeling of macroscopic behaviors. In practice, from a simple description of each phases and interfaces behavior, a structural effect that leads to more complex macroscopic behavior is observed. This work is therefore focusing on two main axes. On the one hand, the morphological representation of the heterogeneities is handle using the excursion sets theory. Randomly shaped inclusions, which geometrical and topological characteristics are analytically controlled, are produced by applying a threshold on realizations of correlated Random Fields. On the other hand, the FE implementation of both heterogeneity and local degradation behavior (micro-cracking) are dealt with by a double kinematics enhancement (weak and strong discontinuity) using the Embedded Finite Element Method. Finally, combining both axes of the problematic, the resulting model is tested by modeling cementitious materials at the meso-scale under uniaxial loadings mainly. It reveals an emergent macroscopic response that exhibits several features such as asymmetry of the tension-compression stress-strain relationship, crack patterns or historical-dependency, which are typical of concrete-like materials.CACHAN-ENS (940162301) / SudocSudocFranceF

Critical probability of percolation over bounded region in N-dimensional Euclidean space

International audienceFollowing Tomita and Murakami (Research of Pattern Formation ed R Takaki (Tokyo: KTK Scientific Publishers) pp 197–203) we propose an analytical model to predict the critical probability of percolation. It is based on the excursion set theory which allows us to consider N-dimensional bounded regions. Details are given for the three-dimensional (3D) case and statistically representative volume elements are calculated. Finally, generalisation to the N-dimensional case is made

FE design for the numerical modelling of failure induced by differential straining in meso-scale concrete: Algorithmic implementation based on operator split method

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